Squeeze-pierce can opener



Sept. 3, 1957 W. J. LAN DRY SQUEEZE-PIERCE CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l 23 y 7/ '22 S 9 45 37 73 27 46a 47 '46 INVENToR. M/f//fa/W d. amd/y ggf A TTORNEV.

Sept. 3, 1957 W, J. LANDRY l 2,804,682

Y, SQUEEZE-PIERCE CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. /4//7//07 d ani/f] A TORNEK sQUnnzn-rrnncn 'CAN OPENER Application August 16, 1956, Serial No. 604,399

9 Claims. (Cl. Sti-15.5)

This invention relates to hand operated can openers and refers more particularly to such a hand operated can opener wherein a can cutting wheel and a can rim feeding wheel are moved relative one another to engage and disengage a can rim by moving -two grasping handles toward and away from one another.

An object of the invention is Ato provide a hand operated can opener wherein two pivoted grasping handles are movable relative one another to engage and disengage a can rim with a cutter wheel and a feed wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand operated can opener as described wherein the cutter wheel is carried on a plate separate from the two grasping handles, the plate positioned between the grasping handles and having a spring biased thereagainst from one of the handles, the handles and the plate cooperating to cut the can on -the resistance of the spring thereby limiting the force applicable to the can by the squeezing of the handles together.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand operated can opener as described wherein the can is cut on the resistance of the spring but a positive stop is provided to act if the can fails to pierce on compression of the handles to their limit thereby avoiding excess compression of the spring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand operated can opener as described wherein the spring mounting of the cutter wheel carrying plate permits motion of the cutter wheel relative the feed wheel when cutting past the can seam without varying the grip on the grasping handles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand operated can opener as described wherein the force applicable to the can by the squeezing of the grasping han dles is limited whereby to completely obviate binding of the feed wheel by excess application of pressure thereon by squeezing of the handles.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hand operated can opener as described having a sealed cutter wheel mounted thereon operable to retain lubrication therein and keep can fluids and other liquids out whereby to retain the cutter wheel freely in rotation on its mounting shaft without any freezing or binding thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand operated can opener as described having a sealed cutter wheel as described, the sealing thereof permitting spring mounting of the cutter wheel on the cutter wheel plate whereby to permit limited outward movement of the cutter wheel on its mounting shaft when it passes the side seam of the can.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hand operated can opener as described which is easy to operate, positive in action, of simple and rugged construction, safe in use and relatively cheap to manufacture.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description thereof.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant specication and are to be read in conjunction therewith, an embodiment of the invention is shown and, in the vari- `ous views, like numerals are employed to indicate like parts.

Fig. l is a side view with parts broken away of the inventive hand operated can opener with the grasping handles positioned the maximum distance apart one from the other.

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the can opener of Fig. l with the grasping handles in the same position.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the can opener of Fig. 1 with the grasping handles in the same position.

Fig. 4 is a left-side view of the can opener of Fig. l showing the opener in three positions. The showing in full lines is with the grasping handles a maximum distance apart; the showing in long dotted lines illustrates the grasping handles moved together until the cutter carrying plate abuts the lower grasping handle, and the showing in short dotted lines illustrates the grasping handles compressed completely together so that the stops ou the handles abut one another. A showing is also made in dotted lines of the spring positioned between the upper grasping handle and the cutter wheel carrying plate.

Fig. 5 is an exploded View of the can engaging end of the inventive can opener showing the construction of the engaging ends of the two grasping handles, top and bottom, with the cutter wheel carrying plate positioned therebetween, the views taken in perspective to illustrate the manner of interengagement of the parts.

Fig. 6 is a view taken along the lines 6 6 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows, the view, however, showing the parts relative one another in the position assumed when the grasping handles are moved toward one another the maximum distance so the stops thereon abut one another.

Referring to the drawings, the inventive squeeze-pierce can opener comprises a pair of grasping handles pivoted at their forward end, a rotatable feed wheel carried by the lower grasping handle, and a cutter wheel carrying plate positioned between the two grasping handles and pivoted therewith. Means are provided to normally maintain the grasping handles at their maximum distance apart, the handles being so configured and engaged with one another that their pivotal movement apart is limited. Means are also provided to normally maintain the cutter wheel carrying plate adjacent the upper grasping handle while, additionally, means are provided to resiliently space away the cutter wheel carrying plate a limited distance from said upper grasping handle. When no compressive force is exerted upon the handles, the cutter wheel and the feed wheel are spaced apart whereby it is possible to place the rim of a can to be opened therebetween. Compression of the handles together engages the can rim between the two wheels and piercing of the can takes place upon further compression. The operating parts of the opener cooperate whereby to normally pierce the can under the resilient force of the spring between the cutter plate and the upper grasping handle. The cooperation of the parts also permits rotation of the handle and cutting past the seams of the can without binding of the feed wheel.'

Referring to the figures for the detailed construction and particularly to Fig. 5 for the interengaging construction of the grasping handles and the cutter wheel carrying plate, the upper grasping handle is indicated at l0. The side of the can opener carrying the cutter wheel and the feed wheel will be designated as the left-hand side of the opener, the opposite side carrying the feed wheel rotation handle will be designated the right-hand side and the grips of the grasping handles will be designated the rear of the can opener.

Upper grasping handle 10 has rearward left and right-hand stop surfaces 11 and 12 operative to abut corresponding stop surfaces on the lower grasping handle 25. The central portion of the forward end of handle is hollowed out and has right side cutter plate abutting wall or surface 13 whereby to permit the right-hand side of the cutter plate 48 to slide p thereagainst. Pivot pin 75 engaging flange 14 is formed at the front end of the surface 13 and has pivot pin hole 15 therethrough. Slot 16 is formed toward the rear of the abutting surface 13 and extends therethrough. Cutter plate receiving groove 17 is formed centrally of the forward end of the upper grasping handle 10. Cutter plate spring socket 18 -is formed adjacent the rearward end of the groove 17 and cutter wheel spring hollow 19 is formed essentially centrally thereof. The left side of the upper grasping handle 10 is cut away as shown at 20. The central portion of the left side of the upper grasping handle is arched outwardly as at 21 to form a cutter spring hood. The cutter spring hollow 19 extends into the left-hand side as may be clearly seen in Figs. 5 and 6. The forward nose 22 of the upper grasping handle 10 is formed so as to abut the forward nose 27 of the lower grasping handle 25. Arcuate flange 23 is formed on the outside of right side wall or abutting surface 13 adjacent the lower edge thereof and has spring receiving groove 24 therein. The lower edge 12a of the right side of the upper grasping handle 10 is formed substantially in conformance with the upper edge of the right side of the lower grasping handle but is cut away slightly so as notV to abut the lower grasping handle except at the stop surfaces 11 and 12.

Referring now to the lower grasping handle, the handle is indicated at 25 with nger engaging knob 26 forward in the grasping portion thereof. Front nose portion 27 abuts nose portion 22 of theV upper grasping handle to limit the outward movement of the handle grips one from the other. Front slot 28 operates to receive the engaging flange 14 of the upper grasping handle and the engaging flange 58 of the cutter plate 48 to be described. Shaft holes 29 are formed in the side walls 28a and 28h of the slot 28 and extend therethrough. Rear slot 30 is formed in the lower grasping handle 25 below the rear portion of groove 17 in the upper grasping handle 10. Slot 30 is to receive the depending positioning flange 63 from the cutter plate 48; The left and right walls of the slot 30 have upper edges 31 and 31a forming abutting surfaces. Edge 31 abuts the right hand abutting surface 12 on the upper grasping handle 10. The left side abutting surface 31a is outwardly extended to a shelf 32 whereby to contact the upper grasping handle abutting surface 11. The action of abutting surface 31a will be later described. Circular shaft orifice 33 extends through the lower grasping handle and has an interior bearing surface 33a to receive the drive shaft 45 of the feed wheel 46. The lower left-hand edge of the lower grasping handle 25 extends outwardly as shown at 34 and can positioning stud 35 is fixed to the apex of the outward extending portion 34. Stud 35 extends into opening 36 (Fig. 6). Arcuate spring carrying flange 37`is formed on the right side of the lower grasping'handle, best seen in Fig. 1. The bearing mounting foi the feed wheel shaft extends from the right side of the lower grasping handle a distance slightly less than the depth of the flange 37 as at 38. Spring 39V (Fig. 1) has central loop 40, hook end 41 to frictionally engage the flange surface 37 and bent endl 42 to ride in the spring groove 24 in the upper flange 23. Spring 39 normally forces handles 10 and 25 a maximum distance apart. The radii of the arcs of the flanges 23 and 37 are the same so that the spring 39 will smoothly ride relative the flange as the handles are compressed and released. When the handles 10 and 25 are maximally apart the front ends of flanges 23 and 37 form a continuous circular arc. The flanges 37 and 23 extend outwardlyfrom the side surfaces of the upper and lower grasping handles an equalY distance when the handles are engaged, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to form a bearing surface for the feed wheel drive handle. Feed wheel drive handle 43 has grip 44 at one end while the other end is preferably rounded to a boss as at 44a whereby to cover the spring flanges 23 and 37 when they are at their maximum distance apart, as shown in Fig. 1. Feed wheel drive shaft 45 is fixed to the inner side of the round handle boss 44a and rotatably ts through the opening 33 in the lower grasping handle 25. The left-hand end of the shaft 45 has a lesser diameter threaded portion 45a (Fig. 4) which threads into the feed wheel 46 which has a serrated or toothed edge portion 46a to engage the rirn of a can. Rotation of the handle 43 rotates shaft 45 and feed wheel 46 therewith. Spring 47 encircles the base of shaft 45 and determines the force with which the feed wheel 46 abuts the left-hand face of the lower grasping handle 25.

Referring now to the cutter plate, which is generally designated at 48, upper abutting edge 49 is contoured to engagingly fit the surface of groove 17 in the upper engaging handle 10 and has cutter plate spring 50 receiving well 51 adjacent the rear portion thereof. Angled surface 52 (Fig. 6) is formed essentially centrally thereof and has well 54 therein threaded to engage the threaded portion of the screw 53. Spring 55 has opening 56 therein to receive the screw 53 and is curved so as to abut with its free end the end of the cutter wheel 69. The right side 57 of the cutter plate is flat whereby to slidingly move on the surface 13 of the upper engaging handle 10. Front tab 58 has its right side in line with the right side of the cutter plate and its left side inwardly set the width of the left hand side of wall 28b of the slot 28 in the lower grasping handle 25. Flange 58 has pivot pin engaging hole 59 therein and fits, together with the flange 14, into the slot 28 in the lower grasping handle 25. The upper surface 60 of the inset portion is contoured to t the top edge of the left-hand side of the slot 28. Limiting pin 61 (Figsfl and 4) opening 62 is formed adjacent the rear end of the cutter plate. Rear centering flange 63 is formed to fit slot 30 and is of sufficient length to always at least partially engage the slot 30, even when the handles 10 and 25 are the maximum distance apart. The flange 63 has its right side in line with the side of the cutter plate while itsl left side is inset from the left side of the cutter plate a distance equal to the width of the left side 31a of the slot 30. Referring to Fig. 6, angled opening 64 is formed in outwardly built portion 64a of the cutter plate to receive the cutter wheel shaft 65 therein. Lubrication groove 66 is formed adjacent the free end of the cutter wheel shaft 65 and sealing groove 67 is formed adjacent the base of the cutter wheel shaft and receives O-ring 68 therein. Cutter wheel 69 has shaft receiving orifice 70 centrally thereof and cutting edge 71 formed thereon. The endof the cutter wheel is sealed over to entirely enclose the rounded free end of the cutter wheel shaft 65. Shim 72'spacesthe cutter wheel on the cutter wheel shaft relative the angled face of the' cutter wheel plate. Can rim guide shafts 73 and 74 are positioned on either side of the cutter wheel 69.

In operation, with the upper grasping handle tab 14 and the cutter plate tab 58 engaged in slot 28 by pin 75, the cutter plate flange 63 engaging slot 30, the spring 5t)- spacing'- the cutter plate from the upper grasping handle groove^17, and the 'wire spring 39 acting against the flanges 23 and 37 to space the grasping handles normally apart, the'inventive hand operated can opener is ready for insertion of a can rim between the cutter wheel 69 and the'fe'ed wheel 46. Assuming a can rim inserted between the wheels, the grasping handles may then be movedv together toward the position shown in long dotted lines in Fig. 4. If the handles were to reach this point before the rim was engaged,v the edge 31a of the' slot 30 abuts the left under edge 48a of the cutter plate 48 above the depending flange 63. So far, the compression ofthe handles would have acted only against the wire springf39. Further compression of the handles 10 and 25 together would cause the lower handle 25 to force the cutter plate 43 upwardly into the groove 17 of the upper grasping handle against the force of the spring 50 until the lower handle surfaces 31 and 32 abutted upper handle surfaces 11 and 12 (short dotted lines). The foregoing is hypothetical. When any conventional can rim is inserted between the two wheels, it is engaged before the slot edge 31a abuts the lower surface 48a of the cam plate 48. Thus, the cutter plate 48 will be moved upwardly against the action of spring 50 with force being exerted through the cutter wheel on the can top before the slot edge 31a abuts the edge of the cam plate. As the cutter plate 48 is moved upwardly, the pin 61 unseats from its engaged position at the bottom of the slot 16 and moves upwardly. Generally, during the motion of the cam plate upwardly the can will pierce before the spring 50 is greatly compresed. If the can fails to pierce under the spring force before the pin 6l reaches the top of the slot 16, the engagement of the pin 61 with the top of the slot will force the cutter wheel to pierce the can. The top of the slot is spaced so from the top of the groove 17 as to protect the spring 50 from over-compression. Once the can pierces, the slot edge 31a moves up against the bottom edge 48a of the cutter plate. The spacing of the feed wheel 46 and the cutter wheel 69 on their respective mountings must be adjusted relative conventional can rims so that upon piercing of the can the lower grasping handle 10 and the cutter plate 48 will engage. When the can is pierced, the cutter plate 4S moves under action of spring 50 toward the lower grasping handle 25 and thus additional spring clearance is achieved between the top of the cutter plate and the upper grasping handle groove 17. Further compression of the grasping handles will move the grasping handle abutting surfaces 11, 12 and 31 and 31a into contact whereby to limit the spring compression applicable to the top of the can and the can rim. When the abutting surfaces 11, 12 and 31 and 31a are in contact, the pin 61 is not abutting the top of the slot 16, the can having been pierced. Assuming that the grasping handles will be maintained clasped together to the maximum extent, two adjustments permit variation between the feed wheel 46 and the cutter wheel 69 when the handle 53 is rotated. If there is no vertical or horizontal adjustment possible between the cutter wheel 69 and the feed wheel 46 and the Wheels are properly adjusted relative the can rim when the can has been pierced, when the cutting process reaches the can seam the rotation of the handle 43 will be more difiicult due to the jamming of the wheels against the seam. To provide for this, there is the remaining rise of the cutter plate against spring 50 permitted by the pin 61 in the slot 16. The cutter Wheel 69 also may move outwardly on the shaft 65 against the action of the spring 55. Thus, suicient limited adjustment is permitted under relatively small resistance to permit feeding of the can rim, including the can seam, between the two wheels in the cutting process without binding the rotation of the handle 43. Lubrication may be put into the groove 66 in the cutter shaft 65 in either liquid or solid form, the cutter wheel 69 inserted over the end of the shaft engaging the ring 68 with its end. With the described construction, the lubrication will be retained between the cutter wheel 69 and the shaft 65 and no foreign matter may enter the space between the cutter wheel and the cutter wheel shaft past the 0ring 68. The cutter wheel 69 may be shimmed at 72 as desired to adjust it on the cutter wheel shaft 65 and the feed wheel 46 may be shimmed as desired also.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A hand operated can opener comprising a pair of grasping handles pivotally hinged adjacent one end thereof for movement relative one another, a carrier plate mounted between said handles and attached adjacent one end to the pivotal hinge of the handles to move freely therebetween, a cutter wheel mounted on one side of the carrier plate, a shaft extending through one grasping handle adjacent the cutter wheel, a feed wheel on one end of the shaft next to the cutter wheel, a handle on the other end of the shaft operative to rotate the feed wheel and resilient means between the carrier plate and the other grasping handle operative to resist motion of the plate toward the handle.

2. A hand operated can opener as in claim l including resilient means urging the carrier plate toward the nonwheeled grapsing handle whereby to avoid free motion of the `carrier plate between the grasping handles.

3. A hand operated can opener as in claim l including st-op means between the grasping handles to limit motion thereof toward one `another before the carrier plate ycontacts the surface of the non-wheeled handle.

4. A hand operated can opener as in claim l including stop means -cooperating between the nonwheeled grasping handle and the carrier plate to stop the travel of the carrier plate toward the nonwheeled grasping handle before it contacts it.

5. A hand operated can opener Ias in claim l including means to limit the motion of the grasping handles away from one another.

6. A hand operated can opener comprising an upper and a lower grasping handle pivotally hinged adjacent one end thereof for movement relative one another, a carrier plate mounted between said handles and attached adjacent one end thereof to the pivotal hinge of the handles to move freely therebetween, a slot in the upper grasping handle operable to receive one edge of the carrier plate therein, a cutter wheel mounted on one side of the carrier plate, a shaft extending through the lower grasping handle adjacent the cutter wheel, a feed wheel on the end of the shaft next the cutter Wheel, a handle on the lother end of the shaft operative to rotate the feed wheel and resilient means between the carrier plate and the upper grasping handle operative to resist motion of the plate toward that handle.

7. A hand operated can opener as in claim 6 wherein the resilient means between the carrier plate and the upper grasping handle is positioned in the sl-ot in the upper grasping handle.

8. A hand operated ycan opener as in claim 6 including a -slot in the lower handle operative to receive at least a portion of the carrier plate when the grasping handles are moved toward one another.

9. A hand operated can opener as in claim 8 including means limitng the motion of the grasping handles away from one another, the carrier plate of sufficient width in 'at least some portion thereof to always engage the slot in the lower handle.

No references cited. 

